Washington Place, Honolulu

Washington Place is located in the Hawaii Capital District in Honolulu, and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2007. It was originally built in the 1840's by the father-in-law of Hawaii's last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, and was the site of her arrest during the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

John Dominis was a wealthy trader who commissioned Washington Place for himself and his family. Tragically, he was lost at sea in 1846, before the house was finished. His wife, Mary, lacking a way to support her family after her husband's death, converted Washington Place to a boarding house in order to support herself and her son. Her son, John Own Dominis, later married Queen Liliuokalani when she was still a young princess. The house became their home, and was eventually left solely to Queen Liliuokalani after her husband's death. She died in the house in 1917, after being deposed.

After Queen Liliuokalani's death, Washington Place served as a governor's mansion from 1921 to 2001. All total, thirteen governors of Hawaii have lived there, until a new governor's residence was built on the same grounds in 2001, and Washington Place was converted into a Hawaiian history museum.

This sight is featured in a self-guided walking tour in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded on iTunes App Store or Google Play. Please download the app to your mobile phone or tablet for travel directions for visiting this sight. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline so no data plan is needed.

Walking Tours in Honolulu, Hawaii

Creating your own self-guided walk in Honolulu is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Diamond Head Volcano is perhaps one of the best-known attractions on the island of Oahu. The volcano's rugged cone is seen from almost every part of the island. However, at its base, along the coastal line, are situated a couple of other spectacular sights. Take this walking tour to admire one of the most ancient treasures of Hawaii - Diamond Head.

It would be a pity to leave Honolulu without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. We've compiled a list of gifts and souvenirs, which are unique to Honolulu, that a visitor might like to purchase to reflect their visit.

Religion in Hawaii is a mix of Christianity, Buddhism and native religions. This is the reason why diverse religious structures, such as shrines or catholic churches can be seen everywhere in Honolulu. Since 1820, the Christian missionaries and Chinese began to popularize their religion and traditions. Nowadays, the ancient Hawaiian religions have almost disappeared. Take this walking tour and enjoy the religious sights of Honolulu, both modern and historic.

From ancient times, the cultural life of Honolulu has been diverse due to numerous influences. The Hawaiian islands are inhabited by more than seven ethnic groups. Nowadays, Honolulu is full of museums, art galleries and theaters that represent the 200-year history of the island. We invite you to discover the most popular cultural spots in Honolulu on this self-guided tour.

Downtown Honolulu is a treasure trove for those, who seek the nineteenth century architectural gems. The district is full of historic buildings showcasing a distinctive Hawaiian style. This style is characterized by a mixture between Western influence and local culture. We encourage you to take this tour and discover the most significant buildings of Honolulu.

Honolulu's Harbor is the main historic seaport of Hawaii. It is called Kulolia or Ke Awa O Kou, by native Hawaiians. It is situated on Mamala Bay and was the area that contributed most to the urbanization of the island. This self-guided tour will take you all the way down from Honolulu's Harbor to the Ala Moana Beach, and along Honolulu's beautiful coastline.

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Pineapples, surfing, flower garlands and colorful shirts are the most distinct things coming to mind in association with Hawaii. Still, when it's time to go leisurely-pleasurely in the remotest part of the United States, it is good to know what is there exactly worth picking up in Honolulu, as...

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